The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima | REVIEW

The Demon King by Cinda Williams ChimaPublished by Hyperion on October 6th, 2009Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Action & Adventure, MagicPages: 506Format: Paperback

Times are hard in the mountain city of Fellsmarch. Reformed thief Han Alister will do almost anything to eke out a living for his family. The only thing of value he has is something he can’t sell—the thick silver cuffs he’s worn since birth. They’re clearly magicked—as he grows, they grow, and he’s never been able to get them off.

One day, Han and his clan friend, Dancer, confront three young wizards setting fire to the sacred mountain of Hanalea. Han takes an amulet from Micah Bayar, son of the High Wizard, to keep him from using it against them. Soon Han learns that the amulet has an evil history—it once belonged to the Demon King, the wizard who nearly destroyed the world a millennium ago. With a magical piece that powerful at stake, Han knows that the Bayars will stop at nothing to get it back.

Meanwhile, Raisa ana’Marianna, princess heir of the Fells, has her own battles to fight. She’s just returned to court after three years of freedom in the mountains—riding, hunting, and working the famous clan markets. Raisa wants to be more than an ornament in a glittering cage. She aspires to be like Hanalea—the legendary warrior queen who killed the Demon King and saved the world. But her mother has other plans for her…

The Seven Realms tremble when the lives of Hans and Raisa collide, fanning the flames of the smoldering war between clans and wizards.

The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima is the first book in the Seven Realms series. It is a high fantasy novel about a reformed thief, his best friend, a strong wizard, and the princess heir to the kingdom. We take a fast paced journey of self discovery and magical adventures.

So let’s sit back and relax. This is going to be a great ride!

WORLD BUILDING

Chima does a fantastic job with the world building. She has a real talent for descriptions and setting up specific environments. Chima creates this world which you know nothing about at the start, and then makes you an expert in every aspect by the end. The world is interesting and complex, and I loved learning about it!

One thing about the world that intrigued me was that in one of the realms, there was a Queendom instead of a Kingdom. Girls were the chosen heirs instead of boys, which is so different from history and all, it’s fascinating!

I know there is still so much more to explore and learn about the Seven Realms, and I can’t wait for that!

CHARACTERS

The characters were also a big part in the story. Raisa is this fierce, stubborn princess who likes to rebel. Though despite this, she actually really wants to be a good queen and make her Queendom a better place.

Han Allister is very swoon worthy. He’s an ex-thief who’s charming, and also a genuinely good person. There were a lot of dimensions to his personality and I loved learning about every one of them.

Fire Dancer was very complex. At the beginning of the story he is a very happy go lucky kind of guy. But but the end he is struggling with his self idenity and becomes the dark and brooding one.

And finally Micah Bayar, our villain type? I only ask because you want to like this guy, but he just can’t be trusted. Especially not his father who holds a very strong influence over Micah. SO we’ll just have to wait and see how he turns out as the story progresses!

NOT SO CLEAR PLOT

Although The Demon King is about 500 pages, there was really not much of a plot. It wasn’t really clear where that story was supposed to be going. In my own opinion I felt it this book was more of a set up for something bigger, then an actual book of it’s own caliber.

What I am trying to say is I wish there were clear plot points. Something more like a beginning, middle, and end. We don’t even get to meet this “Demon King.” We hear about him, but nothing more then that. But don’t get me wrong, I loved this book. I just wished there was more clear of a picture.

Other then that, the story does very well in setting it up for book two and I am excited to see where the story is going.

The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima was definitely all it promises in the synopsis and more. A very exciting start to what I hope is an EPIC high fantasy series that I’m going to love.

I’ve heard so many great things about the series so I am going to soldier on with this fantastical journey. If you have read this book or series, let me know what your thoughts are on it! What should I be expecting in the next book?

Until next time,

Cinda Williams Chima comes from a long line of fortune-tellers, musicians and spinners of tales. She began writing romance novels in middle school, which were often confiscated by her teachers.

Chima is a graduate of Case Western Reserve University and the University of Akron. Chima is an active member of the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. She has been a workshop leader, panelist, and speaker at writing conferences, including the Northern Ohio SCBWI Conference, the Western Reserve Writers’ Conference, and the World Fantasy Convention. She frequently speaks to young writers and readers at schools and libraries nationwide.

Chima lives in Ohio with her family, and is always working on her next novel.